Recently, Farhan Akhtar recalled Naseeruddin Shah’s old remarks that took a swipe at his performance in the 2013 film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. The actor-filmmaker admitted that he found Naseeruddin’s comments “distasteful” and unnecessary. Now, Naseeruddin Shah has reacted to Farhan’s statement, agreeing that Farhan is right to be upset but also clarifying that his quote was “exaggerated.”
Speaking to HT City, Shah said, “He is right but I think my statement has been exaggerated a bit,” he tells us. When quizzed about the exaggerated bits, the 75-year-old said, “I don’t think you need to be a genius to figure that out! Read both statements.”
What had Naseeruddin Shah commented
In 2013, Naseer had openly criticised Farhan’s performance in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. He had told The Times of India, “I don’t care about Farhan Akhtar, and I don’t watch his films. I liked his first film, Dil Chahta Hai. He’s a tremendous person and has so many facets to him. Tomorrow I won’t be surprised if I hear that he cooked a 10-course meal to perfection. He sings, acts, produces films and writes. I think it’s great he’s doing whatever he can. I’m not a great fan of his acting or his films. But I admire him.”
In another interview with IANS, Naseer had called Bhaag Milkha Bhaag “a completely fake film” and criticised Farhan’s portrayal of Milkha Singh. “Farhan has no doubt worked very hard but building up muscles and growing your hair is not exactly working hard on your acting. At least he should have tried to look like Milkha. Milkha is mighty pleased by him and he imagines that this was his life, he imagines he looked like that. Doesn’t he have photographs of himself from the 1960s Olympics?”
What did Farhan say?
In a recent interaction with India TV, Farhan responded to Naseeruddin Shah’s old comments and called his public criticism “distasteful.” He said, “I have known him for so many years. We worked together in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. He knows me ever since I was a child. He is a great performer and a great actor, but the only thing that I didn’t like was that if you want me to improve in my work, then there is a way of communicating that.”
Farhan added, “I would have picked up a phone and told the person to come home. I have watched your film and I found these points lacking, and if you’re passionate for acting, then you should work on these things. This is a way of communicating. But to go in the press and say this… I found that distasteful. Other than that, if he didn’t like it, it is his opinion, and I can’t change that — he is entitled to it.”
